System and method of fast kVp switching for dual energy CT

US7826587B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• David Allen Langan · Clifton Park, US
• John Eric Tkaczyk · Delanson, US
• James W. LeBlanc · Niskayuna, US
• Colin Richard Wilson · Niskayuna, US
• Xiaoye Wu · Rexford, US
• Dan Xu · Vernon Hills, US
• Thomas Matthew Benson
• Jed Douglas Pack · Glenville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 11, 2009
• Grant date: Nov 2, 2010
• Expiry date: Sep 11, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B6/482
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A CT system includes a gantry, an x-ray source, a generator configured to energize the x-ray source to a first kVp and to a second kVp, a detector, and a controller. The controller is configured energize the x-ray source to the first kVp for a first time period, subsequently energize the x-ray source to the second kVp for a second time period, integrate data for a first integration period that includes a portion of a steady-state period of the x-ray source at the first kVp, integrate data for a second integration period that includes a portion of a steady-state period of the x-ray source at the second kVp, compare a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during the first integration period (SNRH) and the second integration period (SNRL), adjust an operating parameter of the CT system to optimize an SNRH with SNRL, and generate an image using the integrated data.